5 Fun & Easy Preschool Sensory Activities

Before they’re able to ask questions or understand explanations, kids explore their worlds using their five senses. Along with being able to see and hear the things around them, little ones touch objects to get a better feel for texture, weight, and shape. Smell helps identify the familiar (mom’s breastmilk for example), the delicious, and the not-so- sweet scented. Likewise, taste helps us learn the difference between things that are safe and unsafe to eat and draws kids toward nutrient-rich foods. All of these sensory inputs help develop a child’s understanding of their surroundings. Sensory exploration also helps develop kids’ brains; the more the senses are stimulated, the more development occurs.

For infants and toddlers, sensory activities can be as easy as letting bubbles land on their skin, sifting sand through their fingers, listening to music, or smelling a flower. As kids get older, sensory activities can become more engaging. Below, Educational Insights’ Experts at Play share a few of their favorite preschool activities designed specifically to stimulate the senses and help build their brains. We’ve used sensory-stimulating, squishy, squashy Playfoam® and magically mesmerizing Playfoam® Pluffle™, but if you don’t have either on hand you can substitute most modeling and shaping compounds for these activities.

1. Get Creative!

Encourage imagination as you stimulate your child’s sense of sight and touch with this hair-brained Playfoam wig activity! Simply cut a head shape out of construction paper, let your little one draw a face, then use squishy, squashy Playfoam to sculpt and attach different hilarious hairstyles.

2. Get Colorful!

Practice color names and matching, a critical early-math skill, with a rainbow maker Playfoam activity! Cut a cloud shape out of construction paper, draw a row of colorful dots at the bottom, and glue craft sticks beneath each dot. Present your child with pods of matching-colored Playfoam and encourage them to roll the Playfoam into tubes that match each colored dot, then press them onto the craft sticks for a squishy, squashy sensory rainbow!

3. Get Snacky!

Using this free, downloadable worksheet as a template, encourage your kids to choose the proper amount of Playfoam, squish it in their hands, and press it onto each section of the cake to create their own delicious dessert!

4. Get Deep!

Sensory bins are the perfect place for little hands to dig deep into developmental play. Fill a bin with Playfoam Pluffle, the mesmerizing, mixable, can’t resistable, feel-good fluffy stuff that never dries out, then drop some themed manipulatives down deep and let your little ones dig them out. Try sorting objects by size, color, or type to further engage the senses. Special thanks to Ashley @theprekday for this awesome image of her classroom sensory bins!

5. Get Matchy!

Stimulate the senses, practice color matching, and build fine motor skills with a cute cookie cutter preschool learning activity! Place a few large cookie cutters on a sheet of white paper. Write the name of a specific color inside the cookie cutter, using that colored marker. Fill several bowls with Playfoam Pluffle, pass your kiddo a spoon, and challenge them to fill each cutter with the matching color of Playfoam Pluffle.

There are so many ways to stimulate the senses using Playfoam and Playfoam Pluffle. Give these sensory play activities a go today and give those growing brains a boost!